Legal Counsel

The LDA; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is seeking a skilled property lawyer to manage and oversee its growing commercial leasing portfolio. The role involves representing the LDA as landlord, handling the legal workstream for a high volume of leases, renewals and licenses, and supporting the asset management team to drive timely transactions.

You will provide day-to-day legal assistance across a range of property transactions, collaborate with multiple stakeholders, and advise on disputes and

Qualifications

• At least 5 years PQE in property matters with hands-on experience in commercial lettings, land acquisitions and disposals.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice grounded in the LDA context, in plain language.
• Enjoys proactive problem-solving and can navigate complex legal and commercial challenges.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail with excellent organisational skills.
• Positive "can-do" attitude, confidentiality and teamwork.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal assistance to the Asset Management team for leasing, including negotiating/completing commercial leases and related documents.
• Review and advise on draft documentation underpinning lease transactions and conduct due diligence.
• Instruct and oversee external counsel, manage budgets and timelines for transactions.
• Support pipeline projects, site assembly, planning applications and related property arrangements.
• Contribute to knowledge-building, templates, governance and risk management within the Legal team.

Skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Team player

Communication skills

Discretion

Negotiation

Job description

About The Land Development Agency

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is a commercial, semi-State body that seeks to maximise the supply of affordable homes on public and other land in a financially sustainable manner, supporting the creation of thriving communities and delivering ongoing positive social impact. It is overseen by an independent board of directors and is funded with €5 billion of equity capital committed by the Government. It is also permitted to borrow up to €1.25bn.
The LDA has commenced construction on a number of projects on State land and has a delivery pipeline in excess of 17,000 homes. It also works in partnership with the country’s largest and most experienced homebuilders and will deliver a further 8,000 homes under the Government’s Project Tosaigh initiative.
Additionally, the LDA is working on large-scale longer-term strategic areas by master-planning and bringing forward planning applications in locations such as Limerick Colbert Quarter and the Digital Hub in Dublin.

The Role

The purpose of the role is to primarily manage and oversee our growing commercial property leasing portfolio. Representing the LDA as landlord, the successful candidate will take ownership managing the legal workstream relating to a high volume of commercial leases, agreements for leases, renewals and licences who will take instructions from the LDA Asset Management business unit and collaborate closely with the asset management team to drive transactions to a timely completion. As an addition to commercial leasing, the role involves providing day-to-day legal assistance to the LDA business units, in relation to a variety of property transactions and development arrangements with a broad range of counterparties and stakeholders.

This is a key role within the LDA Legal team providing great opportunity to contribute to delivery of affordable homes in Ireland. The role would support a variety of property transactions; development projects and property management schemes, engaging with a broad range of counterparties and stakeholders including other State sector entities.

The successful candidate would be working with a variety of stakeholders across the LDA and with leading professionals in their respective fields, reporting to the Head of Legal or another senior member of the Legal team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day legal assistance to the LDA Asset Management team in relation to all aspects of leasing, primarily the negotiating and concluding of commercial leases, agreements for lease, licence for works, deeds of variations while engaging with a broad range of counterparties and stakeholders.
• Negotiate, review and advise on draft documentation underpinning commercial lease transactions, and carry out, and advise on, appropriate property and transaction due diligence.
• Sample workstreams may include:
  • Negotiating Leases and Agreements for Lease across a range of commercial units.
  • Manage ancillary landlord consents.
  • Advise internal LDA teams on day to day estate management.
  • Advise internal LDA teams on pre-litigation disputes.
  • Instruct and oversee external legal counsel, manage legal budgets and timelines for timely completion of transactions.
  • Set up OMC’s required by MUDs in relation to LDA owned schemes.
  • Supporting the early stages of pipeline projects and site assembly, and planning applications.
  • Disposals of land and affordable for sale units.
  • Part V agreements, estate management arrangements, utility connection agreements.
  • Supporting putting in place various consultant appointments, and commercial contracts; and support the early stages of collaboration and development agreements with other stakeholders including local authorities.
• If required, to advise on and attend on dispute resolution matters, including in the RTB and Court, residential property management matters, where there is a dispute prevention or resolution aspect.
• Within the Legal business unit, contribute to knowledge-building, templates, know-how and ways of working, governance matters and risk management.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• At least 5 years PQE in property matters with hands-on experience in matters such as commercial lettings, land acquisitions and disposals and related contracts.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide practical legal advice that is grounded in the reality of the context in which the LDA operates, and in plain language.
• Enjoys proactive problem-solving, and has the ability to navigate complex legal and commercial challenges.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail with excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Demonstrate a positive "can-do" attitude, maintain confidentiality, and be an effective team player.

Additional skills required

• Ability to execute in relatively ambiguous and complex situations, prioritising and juggling multiple actions at once, work independently, be self-motivated and action-oriented.
• Exercises sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Demonstrate a positive "can-do" attitude, maintain confidentiality, and be an effective team player.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

To Apply:

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Thursday 26th November 2026.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promote and support a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we endeavour to provide reasonable accommodation.